#OnTheBigScreen: Downton Abbey, Ad Astra and Moffie
Downton Abbey
The worldwide TV phenomenon Downton Abbey becomes a grand motion picture event.
The beloved Crawleys and their intrepid staff prepare for the most important moment of their lives. We return to the Great House with the most illustrious guests the Crawley family could ever hope to entertain, their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary.
With a dazzling parade and lavish dinner to orchestrate, Mary, now firmly at the reins of the estate, faces the greatest challenge to her tenure as head of Downton. Directed by Michael Engler from a screenplay by Julian Fellowes – who created and wrote the TV series).
Ad Astra
Brad Pitt plays an elite astronaut who travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet. His journey will uncover secrets that challenge the nature of human existence and our place in the cosmos.
Directed by James Gray (Lost City of Z, The Immigrant), from a screenplay by Gray and his long-time associate Ethan Gross (Fringe).
Moffie
Directed by Oliver Hermanus from an original screenplay by Hermanus and Jack Sidey, the film is based on the memoir Moffie by André-Carl van der Merwe and tells the story of a conscript who embarks on his military service in 1981 South Africa.
The film stars Kai Luke Brummer in his first film lead performance as well as a cast of 16 young actors, many of whom make their feature film debut.
The Angry Birds 2 Movie
In this CG animated comedy, three flightless angry birds and the scheming green piggies take their beef to the next level.
When a new threat emerges that puts both Bird Island and Piggy Island in danger, Red (Jason Sudeikis), Chuck (Josh Gad), Bomb (Danny McBride) and Mighty Eagle (Peter Dinklage) recruit Chuck’s sister Silver (Rachel Bloom) and team up with pigs Leonard (Bill Hader), his assistant Courtney (Awkwafina) and techpig Garry (Sterling K Brown) to forge an unsteady truce and form an unlikely superteam to save their homes.
Directed by Thurop Van Orman from a screenplay by Peter Ackerman and Eyal Podell and Jonathon E Stewart.
Rambo: Last Blood
Almost four decades after he drew first blood, Sylvester Stallone is back as one of the greatest action heroes of all time, John Rambo. Now, Rambo must confront his past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final mission. A deadly journey of vengeance, it marks the last chapter of the legendary series.
Directed by Adrian Grunberg from a screenplay by Matthew Cirulnick and Stallone.
The Zoya Factor
In this Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film, Sonam Kapoor stars as Zoya, a young and successful advertising executive who becomes the good luck charm for India’s cricket team during the World Cup. Based on the book by Anuja Chauhan of the same title.
Directed by Abhishek Sharma.
About Daniel Dercksen
Daniel Dercksen has been a contributor for Lifestyle since 2012. As the driving force behind the successful independent training initiative The Writing Studio and a published film and theatre journalist of 40 years, teaching workshops in creative writing, playwriting and screenwriting throughout South Africa and internationally the past 22 years. Visit www.writingstudio.co.zaRelated
